金剛般若經旨贊 1.8.4

1.8.4

Because it possesses these seven meanings, it is called 'with'. In designating this assembly of fellow listeners as 'great': because their number was large; because their renown was high; because they were all arhats; because they were free from heavy obscurations; because their virtues were difficult to measure; because kings and others revered them; because they were oriented toward the fruit of buddhahood; because they destroyed non-Buddhist paths; gathering all explanations, there is this great significance.

'Bhikṣu' is a Sanskrit word that encompasses multiple meanings: first, 'terrifier of Māra', because when one first leaves household life, Māra's palace trembles; second, 'mendicant', because one begs for food and Dharma to sustain body and mind; third, 'pure precepts', because one is free from the faults and evils of body, speech, and mind; fourth, 'pure livelihood', because one is free from the five wrong livelihoods and evil ways of life; fifth, 'destroyer of evil', because one can destroy the afflictions perfumed by seeing and cultivation. The term encompasses five meanings and cannot be translated; the Sanskrit word is merely retained to reveal these five meanings. Due to these five meanings, they are called 'bhikṣus'.

'Saṅgha' is the monastic community. With four or more persons, possessing both harmony in principle and harmony in practice, they obtain the name 'saṅgha'. Sharing identical precepts, views, and so forth is called harmony in principle; sharing the same poṣadha and so forth is called harmony in practice. Because of harmony, it is called a saṅgha.

As for '1,250 persons': Uruvilvā-Kāśyapa had 500 disciples; Gayā-Kāśyapa and Nadī-Kāśyapa each had 250 followers; Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana together had 250 disciples. These five teachers of non-Buddhist paths together had 1,250 followers. When the Buddha first attained the Way, he liberated them at the first assembly. Constantly following the Tathāgata, they shadowed the true Dharma; therefore, the various sūtras and vinayas mostly mention them. In principle and actuality, there were also other assemblies of monks; but because these all left home with pure conduct, were followers of the five teachers, abandoned the erroneous to take refuge in the correct, were those liberated at the first assembly, obtained the precepts through 'Come, bhikṣu!', attained the twofold liberation, and were recognized by gods and humans—possessing these seven meanings, they are specifically mentioned.

'Together' means at the same time and in the same place. Earlier, in relation to Ānanda, it was called 'with'; here, by virtue of sharing the same time and place themselves, it is called 'together'. Therefore, there is no fault of redundant phrasing with what was said before. Thus it speaks comprehensively of '1,250 [persons] and so forth'.

When the Buddha spoke the sūtra, there should have been bodhisattvas, yet now only the śrāvaka assembly is listed. Relying generally on sūtras and treatises, two meanings are briefly revealed: first, to cause other śrāvakas to advance toward the great fruit, seeing that such Dharma was spoken for śrāvakas, they would give rise to the thought: 'Even they hear this and seek the unexcelled fruit; I should do likewise'—so that those who have already redirected their minds will no longer regress, and those who have not yet redirected their minds will also generate the aspiration; second, to cause minor bodhisattvas not to regress, seeing that even śrāvakas could listen to this and seek the unexcelled fruit, they would give rise to the thought: 'Even those of the Hinayana generate supreme progress; how much more so should I not give rise to regression now!'—thus encouraging their minds so that they do not regress. Due to these two meanings, only śrāvakas are listed.